Happy Valentine’s Day, Sam!

I wonder how many people have used that as a title for a weblog post. For me, today, it has many meanings. One, for example, is the fact that in this post I am playing “catch-up” on several things that have been going on for me in the past few weeks. That is obviously the most obvious meaning.

You may also want some ketchup to go with your Freedom Fries. Steve Brodner came to the October Design Madison meeting to talk about his work as an illustrator and political cartoonist. While Mr. Brodner spoke I did a doodle of him in my sketchbook. Before he escaped at the end of the night I showed him my drawing, and he wouldn’t leave until he did a quick (2-minute) caracature of me in response. I’ll never wash that page of my sketchbook again!

Another reason to use the “ketchup” title is the recent election. As we all know, John Kerry’s wife was once married to the Heinz Ketchup family. I am saddened and upset by the results of the election, but what’s done is done. Fortunately ketchup is known to contain special mellowing agents that can help dull the pain of the post-election blues.

Those mellowing agents should also come in handy in calming down the three beasties I drew for a group show at the Branch Gallery in Carrboro, NC. The show will run from December 10 - January 1, and all the line drawings people did will be collected into a coloring book that will be a permanent item in the gallery store.

Speaking of beasties, Cailin and I went to see the Beastie Boys on November 3rd, right here in Madison. It was an awesome show, and I think I spent most of the last half of the show in the air as I jumped up and down. For their Intergalactic encore, they actually popped out in the stands just four rows behind us, so we got to see the crow’s feet on Ad Rock’s eyes and the salt and pepper in MCA’s hair up close and personal. Totally sweet. Um, no ketchup references for this one.

Okay, so ketchup is also often used as fake blood. Since Sam Tastic can’t seem to keep himself from dying bloody deaths I have decided to substitute all his blood for ketchup, to reduce the gore. Since he is a comic character, it may be difficult to tell that he is, in fact, only bleeding ketchup. But he is.

And finally, the bunnies in the comic included with the paintings I did for the Art*o*Mat could probably use some ketchup on their meal, but how would I know. I just finished making 100 pieces for the project, which will be sold in retired cigarette vending machines that have been converted to art vending machines. If you live near one of the Art*o*Mat machines, let the hosts know you want them to stock my piece, so you can buy one. Because you do want to buy one, right?